Now don't be alarmed that my entire blog so far is dedicated to bus-related stories; I have a totally non-metro transit one coming up that I also thought of Monday and this one is short so I can write it at 1:12 in the morning instead of going to bed.
So, I was on a bus, the final bus on my way to school, and it was crowded. This is usual because on the way to the school, students tend to catch rides to school via Metro Transit. Because I got on the bus earlier, I got a window seat.
So I'm sitting on the left side of the bus, bag on my lap, man next to me, and people single-file in the aisle, holding one hand up to grab stuff, when I hear the intercom say:
"Ladies and gentlemen: close quarters.
Be aware of your pockets, wallets, purses.
Your neighbor may not be your friend."
The bus driver had said this and I quickly began to wonder to what end.
The why is clear: he was commenting on the obvious state of crowdedness in the aisle.
I ask to what end because of what I observed happen next: There was a low mumble throughout the vehicle, and I chalked this up to people saying to one another "Well I'm not a thief."
Such overt and blunt words were probably not spoken but the sentiment was there, even if no words were said. What Bus Driver had said sparked an interest in each person to socially interact with the very people they were touching. A clear goal: Don't seem criminal, had coerced these strangers to recognize one another and exchange non-verbal cues.
Well I thought this was quite fucking brilliant; the bus driver had forced people to be more willingly open with one another, turn a mundane activity into a social stew of friendly acknowledgement, and possibly make someone's neighbor their friend. What could have come off as an awkward joke inducing more awkward and suspicious andaccusingandhatingandstereotypingandblamingandjudging behavior, resulted in people being mutually social and innocent.
"I'm not a thief, you don't have to worry" Said he with his eyes,
"That's okay, I didn't think you were. I'm not either, though." Said she, with her arm.
"I'm glad my wallet is safe." He said with his neck,
"I'm glad we all feel safer now, thank you, bus Driver." Said I, looking at the aisle of comfortable people, not looking to my neighbor, for we were sitting down and it would be difficult for him to take my wallet anyway.
Fucking brilliant social experiment.
I hope that bus driver turns that shit in and gets his Ph.D.
t
